1. The choice of coffee
The best method to find the ideal coffee for you is to try and compare a number of different blends and qualities. Do not allow yourself to be influenced by price or packaging. Only the aroma and taste in your cup count.
2. Conservations
Your favourite blends are available either in whole bean, ground or individual espresso portions. As soon as the packaging is open the coffee will be exposed to air and will begin to oxidise. Use as fast as possible once open or store it in a special airtight container (like with wine). As coffee deteriorates in daylight and fears oxygen and humidity, the ideal place for storage is the fridge or freezer.
3. Water
The quality of water used is essential in order to create a good coffee. Ensure that the water is not softer than 12° French (the optimum is between 12 and 19°)
4. Method of preparation
There are many ways of preparing coffee and the equipment will depend on your desired taste and your passion for the drink. The preparation of a good coffee, whatever the method is simple and fast. You have a choice of filter, plunger/cafetier, stove- top percolators or espresso machine to cite the most common.
5. The amount of coffee
Each method requires a specific amount of coffee to create a good cup. As a guide, we suggest 60g of ground coffee for a litre of coffee and 7 – 8g for an espresso.
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6. Grinding
For each method of preparation, the degree of grind needs to be adjusted. A medium to coarse grind is needed for filter coffees, plungers and stovetop percolators. The coffee needs a finer grind for espresso machine.
7. Temperature
Be careful never to pour boiling water on the coffee as it can burn it and give it an undesirable taste. Leave the water for about a minute after boiling before pouring onto the coffee. For coffees prepared over pressure, the water passes through the coffee when the pressure is high enough, similar to the espresso machine system. In Italy, they use small cafetiers known as 'Mocca-Espresso'. The temperature of the water for an espresso should be in-between 85 to 90°.
8. The cups
The cup used should be proportional to the drink you wish to enjoy,
Ristretto (20 – 30ml), espresso (30 – 50ml) or a coffee (100 – 120 ml). A little hint – warm the cup with hot water before pouring in your coffee.
9. Recipes
Coffee enables you to indulge in your own cooking fantasies: you can add sugar, cream (though we do not recommend too much as it is very fatty), milk, alcohol, syrups or spices. You can make your own creation by adding any of the above ingredients. Alternatively check out some of our recipe ideas (click here).
10. The ideal time to drink coffee
There isn't an ideal time to drink coffee, however if you prefer less caffeine, there are many great decaffeinated coffees, but bear in mind that the caffeine is soluble in water, so the bigger the coffee the more caffeine it will have.
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la Semeuse
